Fiber control device



A ril 5, 1966 .1. E. BALLMER ETAL 3,244,333

FIBER CONTROL DEVICE Filed Sept. 19, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 SOURCE OF LUBRICATION REVERSIBLE MOTOR JAMES E. BALLMER GILBERT J SHELDON INVENTORS ATTORNEYS April 5, 1966 I J. E. BALLMER ETAL 3,244,333

FIBER CONTROL DEVICE Filed Sept. 19, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SOURCE OF LUBRICATI ON JAMES E. BALLMER GILBERT J. SHELDON INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,244,383 FIBER CONTROL DEVICE JamesE. Ballmer, Chili, and Gilbert J; Sheldon, Irondequoit, N.Y., assignors to Bausch 3: Lomb Incorporated, Rochester, N.Y.-, a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 19, 1963, Ser. Nd. 310,087

Claims. (CL'242-149) This invention relates to manufacturing of a continuous fiber andmore particularly to the tensioning of the fiber to facilitate winding. i

The formation of a, continuous fiber such as a glass fiber, the tensioning of the fiber, and the winding of the fiber is a delicate process due to the extremely small diameter of the fiber. Over-tension on' the fiber may cause breakage, or lack of tension may reduce control sufiiciently to prevent a precision winding operation. Accordingly this invention provides the tensioning means'whereby a very slight friction may be applied to peripheral portions of the continuous fiber with .a fine adjusting means to gradually increase the tensiOnthrOugh'increaS'e offriction. V I It is an object of this invention to provide a device for controlling the tension on a continuous fiber. f I I It is another object of thisinventiont'o provide adjusting means for varying the tension from' a veryfslight frictional forceto a gradual increasing degree of frictional force to provide a precision control for maintaining the desired tension on a continuous fiber. g It is a, further object ofthis invention to provide a ten sioning device tomai ntain any predeterminedtension on acontinuous fiber. v i The objects of this invention are accomplished by using a plurality of, primary shoes arranged in a manner so that at least one of the shoes mayflbeshifted in "its relative positionto the otherlprimary shoes and thereby deflect the fiber and causefthe linear niovement of the continuous fiber to change to a non-linear movement and apply a frictional component on at leasta portion ofthe periphery of the fiber. Additional secondary .shoes are positioned to engage the primary shoes and in this man-v ner increase the frictional force on the continuously .moving fiber intermediate each of the mating primary .and secondary shoes. Any suitable means, providing the rela.-. tive movement between theshoes' may be used to increase the tension on the fiber. A meansfor supplying a continuous fiber and for receiving thefiber in the winding operation are also shown in the illustrations' The subsequent description and illustrations set forth the preferred embodiments of this invention.

FIG. lillustrates schematically the operation of the tension device. f

FIG. 2 illustrates a modification using a caliper type supporting means fortheshoes.

FIG. 3 illustrates in detail one. of the calipertype ports for theshoes. U l

Referringto' FIG. 1 a source of a continuous fiber 1 is positioned in the upper portion ofthe illustration.

The source of fiber is positioned. vertically above a winding drum 2 whichfis driven by a suitablemotor 3. The continuous fiber initially .is drawn linearly between the source 1 and the winding drum 2 with the intermediate primary shoes retracted inja position to-allow initial operation in this manner. 5 t

ICC

Three primary shoes 4, 5 and 6 are placed intermediate the source 1 and-the-winding drum 2. The primary shoe 5 is cylindrical and includes a frictional material 7 on the-peripheryof a cylindrical base 8. A cylindrical base 8 is supported by the reciprocating arm 40 on bracket 9.- The bracket 9 is formed'with a rack 10 on its under surface which meshes witha pinion 11 operated by a reversible motor 12. 'The reversible motor drives the bracket 9 in either of two directions and is initially in a retracted position to permit the fiber 13 to stretch between the source 1 and the drum-2. As the primary shoe 5 is moved to the left the fiber 13 is caused to engage an are on the periphery of the primary shoes 4, 5 and 6. 'The primary shoe 4 includes a frictional material 14 mounted on a cylindrical element 15- and supported on a bracket 16.

The primary shoe 6includes a frictional material 17 mounted on a cylindrical element 18 supported by a bracket 19. The primary shoes as illustrated are of a cylindrical cross section but need only be, a surface engaging the fiber without producing any stress concentration point whichmight tend to break the fiber during the tensioning of the fiber." The cylindrical' configuration adapts itself well to this "type of operation whereby a linear movement of the primary shoe 5 intermediate the primary shoes 4 and 6 causes the fiber to increase its arc of contact on the three shoes as the shoe 5 is moved in a left hand direction as illustrated. The frictional material 7, 14 and 17 may' be any suitable material providing the desired friction and 'durability necessary for a shoe of this type. Teflon wool has been used satisfactorily for this type of a shoe although the inventors do not wish to limit their invention to this type of material. v j

In thefxtreme left hand position the primary shoe 5 engages a secondary shoe 20 supported on abracket 21. The-primary shoe Sis spring biased, and maintains a constant force between the primary shoe '5:and the 'seco ndary shoe 20 dueto theresilient"force'ofthe spring 22in the left hand position. The fiber produces an arcuate contact on the periphery of the primary shoe 5 and is also frictionally engaged by the shoe 20 causing a friction on the fiber.

Ifadditional tensiolning is desired the secondary shoes 23 and 24 are manually moved toengage the mating pri mary shoes 6 and '14 respectively by means of the knobs and 51. The knob 50 operates the pinion 52 and rack 54 and the knob 51 operates the pinion 53 and rack 55.

The shoes 23 and24 are also spring biased to maintain a uniform force on the primary shoes when in an actuated position. The fiber intermediate.thej'primary and secondary shoes is frictionally engaged by the shoes to increase'the tension of, the fiber 13 as it is wound on the drum 2. A suitable guide, 25 may be provided to scan axially the periphery of the drum' 2 to provide the desired level. wind necessary on the winding drum 2.

' Withlthe increase of frictional engagement of the'fiber atth'e shoes it maybe necessary to provide a lubrication movement of the fiber whichmay cause breakage and unnecessary shut down of the apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 2 a similar device is illustrated wherein the caliper type of supporting mechanism is used for the shoes. The source of fiber 1 is positioned vertically above the winding drum 2 which is driven by the motor 3. The fiber 13 is drawn in a linear manner intermediate the source and thewinding drum. Four caliper type supporting devices 30'for the shoes 31 and 32 are illustrated. The shoes 31 and 32 are biased to a contacting position with the fiber 13 intermediate the shoes. The bolt 33 and nut 34 compress the spring 35 to firmly seat the shoes 31 and 32 on the fiber 13. The tightening of the nut 34 on the bolt 33 increases the frictional component on the fiber. The device illustrated operates by compressing the shoes 31 and 32 around the periphery of the fiber to increase the friction and fiber tension as it passes intermediate the plurality of shoes. A source of lubrication is also illustrated with suitable valve and conduit means for lubricating each of the shoes.

The operation of the device will be described in the following paragraphs.

Referring to FIG. 1 a source of a continuous fiber 1 supplies the fiber which is wound on the winding drum 2. The lateral movement of the primary shoe relative to the primary shoes 4 and 6'causes an increase of arcuate contact of the fiber on the periphery of the primary shoes. With an increase of deflection of the fiber from a' linear path a greater degree of friction is applied to a portion of the periphery of the fiber. In this manner a very limited degree of friction may be applied to the fiber without danger by breakage due to over-tension on the fiber. As the shoe 5 is moved to an extreme left hand position it engages the secondary shoe 20 which increases friction on the fiber. An increase in tension may be supplied by actuation of the secondary shoes 23 and 24 against their mating primary shoes 6 and 4 respectively.

The source of lubrication provides a means for smooth continuous movement of the fiber intermediate the pri mary and secondary shoes. Although lubrication is not always necessary it does tend to provide a smooth operat'ion with a refinement in the increase of the frictional component. Some materials may be used without lubrication where the smoothness of operation is not affected by an increase inthe frictional component. Accordingly the tension on the fiber may be gradually increased to provide the desired control of the fiber as it is wound on the drum 2. A suitable scanning device 25 may be used to provide a level wind if necessary on the drum.

. Referring to FIG. 2 a modification of the device is illustrated. An individual adjustment is provided with each of the caliper supported shoes and individual lubrication is also provided with each of the shoes. This device has accurate control on the tension of the fiber and the advantage of not causing any deflection of the linearly drawn fiber prior to the point of its winding on a circular drum.

The device is provided with an infinite variation of the frictional engagement on the periphery of the fiber to thereby facilitate winding of the fiber. It is necessary that an even tension be maintained to limit the wandering of the fiber to a minimum as it passes through the scanning device 25. It is also necesasry that an infinite number of degrees of tension be provided so that the precisetension is available for an accurate wind. It is also imperative that no surging action be present in the movement of the fiber which may cause breakage of the fiber and unnecessary interruption of the winding operation. t

. The above description and operation sets forth the preferred embodiments of this invention. Other devices may be devised which may fall within the scope of this invention which is defined by the attached claims. w

We claim:

1. A device for tensioning a continuous fiber drawn linearly between two points comprising, a plurality of primary shoes spaced along the fiber alternately frictionally engaging the fiber on opposite sides, means causing relative movement of at least one of the primary shoes relative to the other primary shoes and transverse with respect to the length of the fiber drawn between the two points for increasing the length of engagement and the frictional force on said fiber, a plurality of secondary shoes including means engaging said secondary shoes with mating of said primary shoes enclosing said fiber and increasing the friction on the fiber, thereby increasing the frictional force on the moving fiber to control the tension on said fiber.

2. A tensioning means for controlling the tension on a continuously moving fiber comprising a plurality of curved primary shoes spaced along said fiber alternately frictionally engaging a portion of the length of said fiber on opposing sides, means causing relative movement of at least one of said primary shoes relative to the other of said primary shoes and transverse relative to a line drawn between the last and first point of contact of the preceding and subsequent shoes respectively for increasing the contacting area of said shoes on said fiber, a plurality of secondary shoes mating and engaging said primary shoes for enclosing said fiber between said shoes and thereby increasing the frictional area and force of said shoes with said fiber and controlling the tension on the continuously moving fiber.

3. A tension device for controlling the movement of a continuous fiber comprising, a plurality of primary shoes spaced along said fiber for alternately frictionally contacting the fiber from opposite sides, means causing relative transverse movement relative to the general movement of the fiber of at least one of said primary shoes to increase the length of contact and pressure of contact of said fiber with said. shoes and control the frie tional force on said fiber, a plurality of secondary shoes mating andfrictionally engaging said primary shoes enclosing said fiber for increasing the frictional force on said fiber intermediate the mating of said shoes, lubricating means associated with each of the pairs of mating primary and secondary shoes for lubricating said fiber to cause uniform friction of said shoes with said fiber thereby controlling the tension on said fiber.

4. A tension device in a fiber winding mechanism having a continuous source of fiber and a winding mechanism causing the fiber to pass through a substantially linear path, a plurality of cylindrical primary shoes having frictional material on their outer periphery spaced intermediate said source and said winding mechanism and engaging said fiber alternately on opposing sides, means producing movement of one of the primary shoes relative to the other of said primary shoes and transverse to the fiber pathfor increasing the arcuate contact of the fiber with the periphery of said primary shoes, an arcuate secondary shoe mating each of said primary shoes engaging the primary shoes for a lesser length of arcuate contact than the fiber and enclosing the fiber between said shoes thereby providing a means for increasing the frictional force on the fiber.

5. A tension device in a fiber winding mechanism having a continuous source of fiber and a winding mechanism causing the fiber to pass through a predetermined path, a plurality of cylindrical primary shoes carrying deformable friction pads positioned intermediate said source and said Winding mechanism for alternately engaging saidfiber on opposing sides, means producing traverse movement of one of said primary shoes relative to the predetermined fiber path thereby increasing the fiber engagement with a peripheral segment on said primary shoes, an arcuate secondary shoe carrying deformable friction pads mating each of said primary shoes including means engaging an arcuate segment on said primary shoe of lesser length than the contact of said fiber and enclosing said fiber to increase friction on said fiber, lubricating mean-s providing lubrication of said pairs of 5 6 shoes to thereby provide a smooth frictional force ten- 2,438,675 3/1948 Nicholas 242149 sioning of said fiber. 2,487,889 11/1949 Moore 242149 X 2,750,130 6/1956 Heizer et a1. 242-149 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 589,222 8/1897 Pratt 242-15 11098388 3/1955 886,886 5/1908 Steiner. 883,107 7/ 1953 Germany. 1,319,520 10/1919 Felton. 1 7 7 1 9 1932 Snyder 242 149 MERVIN STEIN: Exammer- 2,276,408 3/ 1942 Marcora 2427149 X 10 

1. A DEVICE FOR TENSIONING A CONTINUOUS FIBER DRAWN LINEARLY BETWEEN TWO POINTS COMPRISING, A PLURALITY OF PRIMARY SHOES SPACED ALONG THE FIBER ALTERNATELY FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING THE FIBER ON OPPOSITE SIDES, MEANS CAUSING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE PRIMARY SHOES RELATIVE TO THE OTHER PRIMARY SHOES AND TRANSVERSE WITH RESPECT TO THE LENGTH OF THE FIBER DRAWN BETWEEN THE TWO POINTS FOR INCREASING THE LENGTH OF ENGAGEMENT AND THE FRICTIONAL FORCE ON SAID FIBER, A PLURALITY OF SECONDARY SHOES INCLUDING MEANS ENGAGING SAID SECONDARY SHOES WITH MATING OF SAID PRIMARY SHOES ENCLOSING SAID FIBER AND INCREASING THE FRICTION ON THE FIBER, THEREBY INCREASING THE FRICTIONAL FORCE ON THE MOVING FIBER TO CONTROL THE TENSION ON SAID FIBER. 